Photographic apparatus with diaphragm-actuated release

ABSTRACT

A motion picture camera wherein the body or the pistol grip handle supports an adjustable carrier for a deformable diaphragm which acts as a trigger to close a switch or to transmit motion to a mechanical camera release. The carrier is reciprocable with reference to the body or handle in parallelism with the optical axis of the objective or is mounted on a universal joint so that the diaphragm is movable to a position in which it is readily accessible to a finger on the hand which grips the handle.

United States Patent Inventor Allred Wlnkler Munich, Germany Appl. No. 12,205 Filed Feb. 19, 1970 Patented Aug. 17, 1971v Assignee Agfa-GevaertAktlengesellschaft Leverkusen, Germany Priority Feb. 21, 1969 Germany G 69 06 842 PHOTOGRAPHXC APPARATUS WITH DlAPHRAGM-ACTUATED RELEASE 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U,.S. Cl 352/244,

, 200/172 A Int. CI....; ..G03b 17/00, H01 h 3/12 Field ol Search 352/243,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,984,726 5/1961 Roeser 200/172 A 2,949,838 8/1960 Skalabrin 352/178 Primary Examiner-S. Clement Swisher Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A motionpicture camera wherein the body or the pistol grip handle supports an adjustable carrier for a deformable diaphragm which acts as a trigger to close a switch or to transmit motion to a mechanical camera release. The carrier is reciprocable with reference to the body or handle in parallelism with the optical axis of the objective or is mounted on a universal joint so that the diaphragm is movable to a position in which it is readily accessible to a finger on the hand which grips the handle.

PATENTEDMIHQH 3500.075

SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR.

ALFRED WINKLER PATENTEU AUG] 7 Ian sum 2 or 2 Fig.3

1 1\ 0 c 3 [El 1 EJIMM Fig.4

INVENTOR.

ALFRED WINKLER By $4M /44 Pno'rocRAPmc APPARATUS wrra DIAPHRAGM- ACTU-A'IED RELEASE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to photographic apparatus in general and more particularly to improvementscin operating means or releases forstill cameras or motion picture cameras, especially formation picturecameras.

It:is-already known to utilize a deformable diaphragmasa trigger to close .an- :electric switch or to move amechanical part of acamera release. =An=advantage of such diaphragm is thata 'minimalforce is necessary to start the-motor of a motion picture. camera orstili camera as we'llas that a minimal .displacement of the diaphragm suffices to close'a switch or to effectwnecessary displacement of a mechanical starter for the motor. Asarule, the diaphragm is flush with a portion of the camera-body so that it does not extend beyond theoutline of such body.'Problems arise'when a camera release embodying a diaphragm is to be used'on cameraswhose housing includes a pistol" grip or another type of handle, especially a handle which extends. forwardly and downwardly from the .camera body.'lt-was found-that a diaphragm which is mounted directly in the wall ofa pistol grip handle is often hard to reach.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 'An' object of the inventionis to provide a photographic apparatus with operating means which includes a deformable diaphragm'and to mount the diaphragm on the housing of the photographic'apparatus. in such away that the diaphragm is readily accessible when the apparatus is in use and the operator wishes to make'one or more exposures.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic apparatus 'whosehousing includes apistol grip or another type ofhandle and-wherein the diaphragm of the operating means is mounted oradapted to be mounted in such a way that it can "bei'readilyreached by. at least one finger of the hand which .grips the handle so that theother hand remains free to manipulate other components of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel carrier-structure for the operating means in a still camera or motion picture camera, especially in a motion picture camera with downwardlyand forwardly extending pistol grip handle.

Anadditional object of the invention is to provide-a photographic .apparatuswhereinthe operating means can be moved between a largenumber of positions so that its diaphragm can be located where it is readily accessible to the user of the apparatus.

The-invention is embodied in a photographic apparatus, particularly in a motion picture camera, which comprises a housing (including a camera body and preferably a handle which extends from the body), carriermeans supported by and movable relative toithe housing between a plurality of positions, and. camera operating means. including adeforma- 'ble-diaphragm mounted .on the carrier means. The carrier means can be-zmountedin the' body or in the handle for reciprocatory movement in parallelism with the optical axis of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a motion picture camera wherein the carrier means is mounted on the handle of the camera housing and is movable in parallelism with the optical axis of the objective;

FIG. 2 isan enlarged fragmentary side-elevational view of a second motion picture camerawherein the carrier means is mounted directly in thecamera body.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of, a handle which meshes with externally threaded carrier means; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of 'ahandle which includes a universal joint for the carrier means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a motion picture camera having a housing which includes a camera body 1 and a pistol grip handle 2 whose front and rear sides 2b, 20 extend forwardly and downwardly fromthe underside of the body]. The picture taking objective is shown at 6 and the viewfinder at 6a. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the handle 2 is provided with a channel 2a which is parallel to the optical axis of the objective and accommodates a reciprocable carrier structure 4 which is a substantially block-shaped casing and can be pushed or pulled by hand between an infinite number of posi- .tions,.e.g., between the solid-line position and the phantomlineposition 4'. The front wall of the casing 4 is formed with a window which accommodates a deformable diaphragm or trigger 3 located in front of a displaceable memberS which can constitute the movable contact of a normally open electric switch serving to start the motor in the body 1. The diaphragm 3 and the device including the member 5 together form a camera operating means which starts the motor and/or initiates one or-more further operations in response to finger pressure on the outer side of the diaphragm 3 Such pressure can be-exerted by a finger of the hand which grips the handle 2. Once the casing 4 is moved to an optimum position, it can be releasably fixed or locked in such position by a fastener'7 here shown as a knurled wheel having a stem. 70 which meshes with the handle 2 and can engage the adjacent side face of the casing 4 in the channel 20. It is clear that the channel 2a can be replaced with a recess provided in an outer side of the handle 2. Also, the channel 2a need not extend inexact parallelism with the axis of the objective 6.

It was foundthat a diaphragm which is placed forwardly of the front side 2b of the handle 2 is more readily accessible to one or more fingers of the hand which grips the handle than a diaphragm which is installed directly in the front side 2b.

The connection between the electric circuit in the body 1 and the operating means in the casing or carrier structure'4 (provided that the member 5 forms part of an electric switch) can'be-established by means of fixed contacts provided in the channel 2a and sliding contacts provided on the casing 4 and engaging the fixed contacts in each selected position of the casing.'If the member 5 forms part of apurely mechanical connection with the motor or shutter in the body 1, it may constitute the axially movable core of a Bowden .wire or the like.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the camera body 101 is provided at its underside with guide means or ways 11 for a carrier structure 104 which includes an elongated rail 8 having a downwardly bent front end portion sa-supporting a capsule 4a for a diaphragm 3 and a motion receiving member (not shown) in the interior of the capsule. The bottom wall 9 of the body 101 has an elongated slot 9a through which-the portion 8a of .the rail 8 extends in front of the front side: 102b-of the pistol griphandle 102. A fastener I0 is threadedly connected with the bottom wall 9 and'can engage the rear portion of the rail 8-to hold the capsule 4a and the diaphragm 3 in a position which is most convenient to the user of the camera. The foremost positions of the capsule 4a, diaphragm 3 and rail8 are indicated by phantom lines, as at 4a, 3'' and 8'. The rail8 is reciprocable in substantial parallelism with the optical axis of the picture taking objective, not shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a pistol grip handle 202 whose front side 20% is provided with a tapped bore 13 for the externally threaded portion 12 of a carrier structure 204 containing a diaphragm 3 and a displaceable member 5. The distance between the diaphragm 3 and the front side 202b of the handle 202 'can be changed in response to rotation of the carrier structure 204. If the member forms part of an electric switch, the latter can be connected with the other parts of the electric circuit in the camera housing by. flexible conductors in a sheath 5a.

, The carrier structure 204 can be threadedly connected with the body of a camera housing, for example, directly below the picture taking objective.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a handle 302 which supports a universal joint for a capsulelike carrier structure 304 containing a deformable diaphragm 3. The joint comprises a socket 15 in the front'side 302b of the handle 302 and a ball 14 which is turnable in the socket 15 unless prevented by the tip of a threaded fastener 16 which meshes with the handle 302 and can engage with or be disengaged from the ball. The universal joint enables the user to move the carrier structure 304 to any one of an infinite number of positions relative to handle 302. The head of the fastener 16 can be reached at the rear side 302:: of the handle 302. The joint can also be installed in the body of a motion picture camera. It is further clear that at least some of the carrier structures shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be used with advantage in or on still cameras. For example, the structure shown in FIG. 3 or 4 can be readily incorporated in still cameras. I

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What 1 claim as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a photographic apparatus, a combination comprising a housing; carrier means supported by and movable relative to said housing between a plurality of positions; and camera operating means including a deformable diaphragm mounted in said carrier means.

2. A combination as defined inclaim 1, wherein said operating means further comprises a member which is displaceable in response to deformation of said diaphragm.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said displaceable member forms part of an electric switch.

a universal joint connecting said carrier means to said housing.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a camera body and a handle extending from said body, and further comprising picture taking objective means mounted on said body, said carrier means being supported by and being movable with reference to said handle in substantial parallelism with the axis of said objective means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 further comprising fastener means releasably securing said carrier means to said handle. v

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a camera body and further comprising picture taking objective means mounted on'said body, said carrier means being supported by and being reciprocable relative to said body in substantial parallelism with the axis of said objective means.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said carrier means comprises an elongated rail and said body is provided with guide means for said rail, and further comprising fastener means releasably securing said rail to said body.

8. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said housing further comprises a handle extending from said body and having a front side facing the subject when the camera is ready to make an exposure, said operating means being mounted on said carrier means forwardly of said front side of said handle so that the diaphragm is accessible to at least one finger of the hand which grips the handle.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said carrier means comprises an elongated rail which is reciprocable in guide means provided therefor in said body, said rail having a bent over front end portion supporting said operating means.

10. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing and said carrier means are provided with mating threads and said carrier means is movable between said plurality of positions in response to rotation thereof with reference to said housing.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said housing comprises a camera body and a handle extending from said body, said carrier means being in threaded engagement with said handle.

12. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising 13. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said universal joint is a ball and socket joint.

14. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a motion picture camera and said housing comprises a camera body and a handle extending downwardly and forwardly from said body, said carrier means being supported by said housing in such a way that said diaphragm is accessible to at least one finger of the hand which grasps said handle. 

1. In a photographic apparatus, a combination comprising a housing; carrier means supported by and movable relative to said housing between a plurality of positions; and camera operating means including a deformable diaphragm mounted in said carrier means.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said operating means further comprises a member which is displaceable in response to deformation of said diaphragm.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said displaceable member forms part of an electric switch.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a camera body and a handle extending from said body, and further comprising picture taking objective means mounted on said body, said carrier means being supported by and being mOvable with reference to said handle in substantial parallelism with the axis of said objective means.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4, further comprising fastener means releasably securing said carrier means to said handle.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a camera body and further comprising picture taking objective means mounted on said body, said carrier means being supported by and being reciprocable relative to said body in substantial parallelism with the axis of said objective means.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said carrier means comprises an elongated rail and said body is provided with guide means for said rail, and further comprising fastener means releasably securing said rail to said body.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said housing further comprises a handle extending from said body and having a front side facing the subject when the camera is ready to make an exposure, said operating means being mounted on said carrier means forwardly of said front side of said handle so that the diaphragm is accessible to at least one finger of the hand which grips the handle.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said carrier means comprises an elongated rail which is reciprocable in guide means provided therefor in said body, said rail having a bent over front end portion supporting said operating means.
 10. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing and said carrier means are provided with mating threads and said carrier means is movable between said plurality of positions in response to rotation thereof with reference to said housing.
 11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said housing comprises a camera body and a handle extending from said body, said carrier means being in threaded engagement with said handle.
 12. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a universal joint connecting said carrier means to said housing.
 13. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said universal joint is a ball and socket joint.
 14. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a motion picture camera and said housing comprises a camera body and a handle extending downwardly and forwardly from said body, said carrier means being supported by said housing in such a way that said diaphragm is accessible to at least one finger of the hand which grasps said handle. 